Day 140: Today, I have a little quiz for you. The first question is easy: What species has done more to harm its native habitat than any other? Yep, you got it: Homo sap, for whom I would like to propose new nomenclature, i.e. Homo insapiens, the "unwise man."
I'll need to give you a little background before posing the second question. An invasive species is one which creates negative impacts on the environment into which it has been introduced. This can take a number of forms. It may establish a monoculture, snuffing out native species, sometimes to the extent of extinction. Invasives may reduce biodiversity by out-competing native organisms for limited resources. Invasives may permanently alter habitats and ecosystems by disrupting the natural controls which previously maintained a balance between endemic populations. Invasives are usually fast breeders with strong adaptive characteristics. Invasives are frequently biogenic vectors for disease.
Now for Part Two of the quiz: Name a non-native species common to North America, South America and Australia which has proven destructive to endemic populations on all the points listed above. Did I hear anybody suggest those horribly harmful Western Europeans? Go to the head of the class.
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